Bad Men by Julie Mae Cohen is dark, funny, and seriously messed up—in the best possible way

What do you get when you cross a lonely heart, a true crime podcast, and a vigilante sociopath with a fondness for elaborate meet-cutes? Julie Mae Cohen’s Bad Men is a delightfully deranged feminist thriller that manages to be equal parts clever, unsettling, and charming—yes, charming—in spite of (or maybe because of) its body count.

Saffy isn’t your average heroine. She’s a serial killer heiress with a strict moral code, targeting men who harm women. She’s meticulous, disciplined, and has no time for romance. Until she meets Jonathan Desrosiers, a true crime podcaster known for solving the very kinds of violent crimes Saffy doles out her own brand of justice against. The irony isn’t lost on her—or on the reader. Saffy is used to watching men from the shadows before she makes her move, but when it comes to Jonathan, she orchestrates a complicated and hilarious meet-cute that’s as risky as it is romantic.

And here’s where it gets deliciously complicated: Jonathan isn’t just a nice guy—he’s the nice guy. Smart, driven, morally sound, and passionate about justice, he’s everything Saffy never thought she’d find in a man. Of course, falling in love with someone whose job it is to figure out people like her? Not the most relaxing way to start a relationship.

Cohen plays with genre tropes the way a cat plays with its food—flipping the script on what we expect from thrillers, romance, and revenge narratives. The result is something darkly comic and strangely hopeful, even as it challenges our moral compass. Is it ever okay to kill? What does “bad” even mean? And can someone who self-identifies as a sociopath really be capable of love?

What’s especially fascinating is how Cohen sets Saffy’s brand of justice against the book’s infamous “Bin Bag Killer,” a more traditional monster in the serial killer mold. The comparison invites readers to draw lines between evil and vengeance, violence and justice, all while questioning where Saffy fits in. Hero? Villain? Anti-heroine with a killer wardrobe and a deeply buried need for connection?

The writing is razor-sharp and full of sly humor, with a voice that will appeal to fans of Gillian Flynn, Oyinkan Braithwaite, and other authors who dare to blur the lines between sympathy and horror. The romance, such as it is, feels surprisingly earnest—Saffy may be a killer, but her longing for love is deeply human.

Ultimately, Bad Men is an absolute ride. It’s twisted, smart, provocative, and even tender in its own messed-up way. You’ll find yourself rooting for Saffy, even as you question whether you should be.

Have you read Bad Men yet? Did Saffy win you over—or completely freak you out? Let’s talk sociopathic soulmates and morally murky justice in the comments!

Related Content

• Why women are so damn angry with men (Becky Whetstone)
• America’s femme fatale: The story of serial killer Belle Gunness (Shelf Life)
• Female serial killers — Unmasked (Sue Coletta)
• The unique motives of female serial killers (Psychology Today)
• Female serial killer motivated by trauma? (Danielle Rousseau)

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Now that Jack has been forced to reflect on everything he has to lose, he resolves to do better. He’s determined to spend more time at home with his family and repair the relationships that have suffered over the years while he’s been so focused on work. But as Callie’s behavior becomes increasingly bizarre, Jack realizes he has a lot more room to improve than he realized – and it might be too late to save his daughter after all.

For fans of We Need to Talk About Kevin, The Push, and Baby Teeth.